Kabuto Arrives, Cursed Seal Naruto Appears

That's where Sasuke, Naruto, and the others are...

I never expected Naruto to be given a Cursed Seal too.

Lord Orochimaru, what exactly are you planning??

Several dozen meters from the tree hollow where Sakura and Naruto were hiding, Kabuto stared at Sasuke outside the hollow, his eyes flickering.

According to the original plan, wasn't Sasuke the only target?

Could it be for that plan!

At the thought, Kabuto subconsciously pushed up his glasses, his expression turning grave.

The One-Tailed Shukaku and the Nine-Tails Fox.

Lord Orochimaru, were you really going to destroy Konoha this time?!

"Then let me first test the Nine-Tails Fox's power..."

Thinking of that possibility, a faint gleam flashed over Kabuto's glasses as he murmured softly.

He immediately turned, intending to lure the enemy over...

As a spy, he had always planned before acting.

He always kept himself out of the situation, then killed with a borrowed blade...

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique..."

But just as he moved, a voice suddenly rang out from the bushes beside him.

"What? A Shadow Clone??"

Seeing another Sasuke suddenly appear and attack, Kabuto cried out and immediately dodged.

Yet his heart was filled with doubt!!

How could Sasuke use Shadow Clones??

This was completely different from the intelligence he had gathered...

"Hmph, you really aren't a simple character.

First, you pretended to be some kind-hearted senior. Now you're spying on our Scrolls..."

The Sasuke clone spoke first, setting the tone as he pushed off the ground and charged again.

This guy had a complete Heaven and Earth Scroll on him. How could he let such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away?!

"Enemy attack! Sakura, protect Naruto..."

The other Shadow Clone outside the tree hollow immediately warned her, forming Hand Seals with both hands as he joined the battle.

"Okay, leave this to me..."

Sakura instinctively shouted, immediately drawing a Kunai and vigilantly scanning her surroundings.

A team attack couldn't possibly have only one person. There had to be others lying in ambush nearby...

"Sasuke, I'm not an enemy..."

Even though he had been exposed, Kabuto still put on a hypocritical expression and shouted.

Never exposing himself to the light was a principle carved into his bones...

"Cut the crap..."

Sasuke's clone was completely unmoved, and Konoha Great Whirlwind exploded from his leg.

"If that's how it is, then I can only defeat you first and explain afterward..."

Seeing that Sasuke had no intention of negotiating, Kabuto let out a helpless sigh for show.

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes beneath his lenses as green fluorescent Chakra ignited in his hand...

He raised one hand in a palm strike, unleashing Mystical Palm Technique in an attempt to sever the nerves in Sasuke's leg.

Bang...

But at the instant his leg and Kabuto's palm met, Sasuke vanished with a bang, turning into a Shadow Clone!

"A Shadow Clone?

Then you must be the real one..."

Kabuto's expression shifted slightly. He immediately turned to stare at the other clone, murmuring with certainty.

The next moment,

Chakra burst beneath Kabuto's feet, and he rushed before that Shadow Clone with lightning speed.

Against Kabuto, who possessed Jonin-level strength, a Shadow Clone with only Genin-level strength had no ability to resist...

After barely blocking several attacks with the Sharingan, he was struck in the neck with a hand chop and dispersed with another bang...

"Another clone? Where's the real one??"

Kabuto's face changed at the sight, and he instinctively turned toward the tree hollow.

"Oh no..."

At the same time, Sakura's face went pale when she saw Kabuto's gaze...

She had never imagined that this kind-looking senior was actually so powerful.

He had defeated two of Sasuke's clones so quickly, and it seemed he had no teammates!

If she had known, she would have gone over to help fight earlier...

"You're Sakura, right...

I actually mean no harm. It was Sasuke who..."

Seeing Sakura's tense vigilance, Kabuto's heart stirred. He quickly arrived before the tree hollow and spread his hands as he explained.

'Water Release: Water Tear...'

But the instant he approached, Sakura, who had secretly completed her Hand Seals, seized the chance and spat three sharp Water Needles at his face.

This sudden turn of events caught Kabuto completely off guard...

He naturally knew everything about Sasuke's teammates. Sakura shouldn't have known any Ninjutsu at all.

That was why he had dared to step forward and speak so recklessly...

But there was no time for him to think further. In a flash, Kabuto made a decisive retreat...

With a crack, he failed to dodge in time, and one lens of his glasses was pierced by a Water Needle...

"Don't think you can escape..."

Seeing her sneak attack fail, Sakura immediately threw a Kunai and shouted.

But Kabuto, now with time to react, was incredibly fast. He pivoted, Chakra bursting beneath his feet.

While dodging the Kunai, he flashed to Sakura's side, and Mystical Palm Technique swept past her at high speed...

Just as Sakura was about to counterattack, her arms suddenly grew heavy, and both of them hung limply at her sides.

"The nerves in your arms have been temporarily sealed by my Chakra. You won't be able to form Hand Seals for an hour...

Now, we should have a proper talk!"

Seeing the terror in Sakura's eyes, Kabuto withdrew his Mystical Palm Technique and spoke gently.

"There's nothing for you and me to talk about...

If you want the Scroll, here it is!

Sasuke-kun is nearby and will be back soon. I advise you to take the Scroll and leave while you still can..."

Seeing that she had no power to resist, Sakura's eyes flickered. She kicked the fake Scroll on her body toward him, borrowing the fox's might to intimidate him.

For now, she could only buy time this way!

Even if she couldn't scare Kabuto away, Sasuke would quickly return once he received the Shadow Clone's feedback.

"Scrolls?

I've already collected those things...

If you don't want to talk, then we'll wait until Sasuke returns.

But before that, let me take a look at Naruto...

I know a little Medical Ninjutsu..."

Kabuto said indifferently, turning to walk toward the unconscious Naruto.

The burning excitement in his eyes could no longer be concealed...

The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—what reaction would a Jinchuriki's body have after being branded with a Cursed Seal??

He was far too curious...

"Wake up already...

Naruto~~"

Seeing Kabuto extend his claws toward Naruto, Sakura couldn't help screaming.

At the same time, Chakra burst beneath her feet as she tried to go over and stall for time...

"I mean no harm, Sakura..."

Kabuto still wore that fake, affected smile as he explained, raising his hand to block the nerves in Sakura's legs again.

But at that very instant...

Boom...

Violent crimson Chakra erupted from Naruto's body. As Kabuto turned his head in shock,

the tangible Chakra, visible to the naked eye, transformed into a long whip and lashed out in a blur, violently blasting Kabuto out of the tree hollow...

This sudden change left both Sakura and Kabuto utterly shocked!

"Sakura, thank you for waking me up...

Now, I won't let anyone hurt you..."

Before Sakura's stunned expression, Naruto suddenly rose to his feet, his face dark as he spoke solemnly.

Crimson, spiraling Chakra coiled around his body, while Cursed Seal markings identical to Sasuke's appeared across half his body...

On that once carefree, grinning face, his blue pupils had turned into crimson beast eyes...

A savage, evil Chakra aura instantly radiated in all directions...